I'd slapped Richard, and he was just... giving me the divorce I wanted? Richard never made a bad deal. God, I was certain he'd collect what I owed him, with interest.
Dawn was breaking when I finally dozed off.
The doorbell rang at exactly ten o'clock. I jolted awake. It was David, holding a thick manila envelope.
"Miss Green." That's what he called me now.
"Mr. Winston asked me to deliver this. It contains all the divorce documents. He's already signed."
I took the envelope, and David left.
I'd barely closed the door and hadn't even opened the envelope when my phone rang. My father.
The phone rang for a while before I took a deep breath and answered.
"Natalie!" My father's agitated voice came through. "Why did Winston Group suddenly pull all the funding Green Technology needed? What the hell is going on? Did something happen between you and Richard?"
Too many things had happened between Richard and me.
"Natalie? Answer me!" My father's tone sharpened. "Did you throw another tantrum? I've told you a thousand times—a man like Richard being busy with his career is normal! You need to be understanding and considerate! Did you do something wrong? Did you upset him? Go apologize right now and smooth things over! Green Technology is counting entirely on the Winston partnership. We can't afford any problems with the funding! Do you have any idea how many people's livelihoods are at stake?!"
Apologize to Richard? Smooth things over? If this was before that slap, maybe I would've wavered. But now, I wasn't going to give Richard the satisfaction of punishing me.
I tried to speak calmly. "Dad, Richard and I are over."
"What do you mean over?!" My father's voice shot up, stabbing through the receiver. "Natalie! Stop being so difficult! So rebellious! Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to secure this marriage for you? The Winston family! That's a threshold most people would kill to even approach! And now you're saying it's over? Are you still hung up on that ridiculous singing dream? Let me tell you something—that's all fantasy! Marrying Richard, being Mrs. Winston—that's the path you should take! That's what helps this family!"
There it was again. My dreams were ridiculous. My feelings were childish. My life's value was measured by how much I helped the family.
A cold fury, mixed with years of suppressed hurt, surged up.
"Is that right?" I cut him off, my voice surprisingly steady. "If marrying Richard and being Mrs. Winston is what's best for the family, then why didn't you have Michael do it?"
Michael. My spoiled half-brother from a different mother. My father's precious boy. Green Technology's future heir.
"You... what did you just say?" My father's voice trembled. I couldn't tell if it was from shock or rage.
"I said," I enunciated each word clearly, "if the family needs Winston's help so badly, if this marriage is so important, then let Michael—the capable, responsible one who actually contributes to the family—go negotiate with Richard and secure funding. See if Richard wants him! Or maybe Michael could find himself a rich girl from that social class and marry into her family. If you need contact information, I'd be happy to provide it!"
"Natalie! You're being selfish! Arrogant! I found you Richard, such a perfect match, and instead of thanking me, you break my heart like this! I'm so disappointed in you!"
"Then be disappointed." I hung up.
The phone stayed silent for maybe ten seconds before it started vibrating like crazy.
Messages flooded in. All from my father.
"Natalie, you've broken my heart! I've sacrificed so much for you!"
"Apologize to Richard immediately! Save this relationship!"
"How can you be so selfish? This affects the entire company!"
"Your brother is a man, he can't... what kind of insane talk is that?"
"I'm ordering you to fix this right now!"
I stared coldly at the screen as the accusatory messages kept coming.
